Philippines creates committee to resolve railway right of way issues

On March 25, 2024, President Marcos signed a new order to create an interagency committee for right of way (ROW) issues related to national railway projects. He highlighted that ROW problems are causing delays in construction. The goal is to speed up railway project implementations and improve cooperation among government agencies. A year later, little progress has been made, leading the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to suggest forming a dedicated ROW office. This office would aim to simplify land acquisition and resettlement processes to resolve ongoing ROW challenges that hinder important infrastructure projects. Despite the suggestion, experts caution that just creating an office may not solve deep-rooted issues. The Metro Manila subway project faces delays, now pushed to open in 2032, and other railway initiatives are also impacted by ROW complications. The government has known for years that a flawed valuation system and funding shortages are key issues. Landowners often challenge the government's offers in court, feeling that their properties are undervalued or that payments are delayed. Under the 2016 Right of Way Act, the government can acquire land but must provide fair prices. However, many disputes arise over compensation. PSAC's recent proposal includes potentially using funds from a vehicle user tax to help with land purchases. They also recommend consistent funding for ROW concerns rather than relying on the yearly budget. President Marcos suggested including this funding in the proposed ROW Act, which is currently stalled in the Senate. The proposed House Bill No. 6571 aims to make ROW acquisition fairer and more efficient. It suggests detailed plans for assessing costs and resettling affected families. For now, the Department of Transportation has provided temporary rental subsidies to assist those impacted by ROW processes. There is hope that the PSAC's latest proposal will lead to meaningful change, unlike the previous interagency committee which achieved little.